African violet plant named Rose

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Rose characterized by its small, double pink flowers; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; large, dark green, oval to spear-shaped leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous and compact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Rose.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation 906 L.M. rot rosa 50 and is a product of aplanned breeding program. The new cultivar was originated from a crossmade by me in the controlled breeding program in Haffen, FederalRepublic of Germany. The female, or seed parent was a cultivardesignated Arizona III. The male, or pollen parent was a cultivardesignated 282.

Rose was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Haffen, WestGermany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings, asperformed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Rose has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin a 10 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville, Tenn. undergreenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Rose, which in combination distinguish thisAfrican violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Small, pink double flowers.

(3) Each plant carries 9-11 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 9-11 and more flowers.

(4) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(5) Vigorous and compact grower.

(6) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(7) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(8) Large, dark green, oval to spear-shaped leaves.

(9) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 12 a.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. Rose.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Arizona III.

Female parent.--282.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 9 cm to 12 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately25-28 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oval to spear-shaped. Diameter: 65-75 mm wide and80-90 mm long. Texture: Leather-like. Aspect: Hairy, slightly shiny.Veins: Upperside: well visible; underside: well pronounced, light green,shiny. Color (upperside): Yellow-Green Group 147 A and darker. Color(underside): Greyed-Purple Group 186 B to C. Petiole: Strong upright,purplish brown hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Ball-shaped, 6-7 mm just before opening, pink. Sepals:Five (5). Color: Purplish brown. Calyx: Shape: Almost flat. Aspect:Spear-shaped hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strong upright, hairy. Color:Green with purplish brown touch.

Individual flowers.--Size: 34-38 mm. Shape: Double. Color (upperside):Purple Group 78 covering all shades from A to D. Under coolertemperatures and more intensive lighting, the pink tends to intensify.Color (underside): Purple Group 78 B to D. Borne: Each flower stemcarries 9-11 and more flowers on strong, upright peduncles that are freestanding above the leaves, thereby forming a compact bouquet. Floweringhabit: Flowers 10-11 weeks after potting.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anther cells, seed capsulepushes slightly through.

Filaments.--Yellowish green with pink touch, 3-4 mm long.

Pollen color.--Yellow Group 7 A.

Styles.--7-8 mm long, purplish red, base of ovary light green and hairy.

Roots: Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Up to date, Rose has shown very good resistance toall major violet diseases.

General observations: Rose is very attractive due to a nice bouquet ofsmall, double pink flowers. A tight cluster of flowers free standingabove the leaves develops after approximately 10-11 weeks. Each of the9-11 and more strong flower stems carries 9-11 and more flowers havingdifferent shades of pink. The anthers are usually covered up. Theflowers are long-lasting and non-dropping and the seed capsules pushslightly through. Rose is a vigorous and compact grower with large, darkgreen, oval to spear-shaped leaves.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Rose, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its small,double pink flowers; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightlytoward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; large,dark green, oval to spear-shaped leaves; profuse flowering, vigorous andcompact growth habit, flowering 10-11 weeks after potting, and its longlasting and non-dropping flowers.